Category Archives: seeking understanding

A friend told me months ago about  the movie “Bridge of Spies.” I was on the other side of the pond when it was in theaters. I’ve been waiting to see it and as I crossed the pond Saturday, I saw it. It’s a great story of a man who stands for what is right no matter the personal cost.

At one point a Russian tells him that he reminds him of a man from his childhood “standing man.” A man who kept standing up in the face of opposylition.

Near the end, the main character, played by Tom Hanks, said this to a young man who clearly was afraid of what people thought:

“It doesn’t matter what people think. You know what you did.” 

– James Donavan in the film “Bridge of Spies”

What we think of what other people think can really get in our way. It can cause us to steer toward their opinion or pleasing them rather than doing the right thing. 

Seek what is right and do that. 

Let people think what they think, we don’t need to be a slave to being popular or well thought of.

Paul certainly understood the struggle and hardship of following Chhrist, but he also understood the importance of prayer:

“For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:8-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/2co.1.8-11.esv

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.15.10.esv

In order for this to apply to us, we must be investing significant quantities of time with the Lord in prayer and the Bible. Then we may know it is Him guiding, not our flesh and ambition. Sit with God, hear from Him before you begin.

Paul goes on…

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:58‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1co.15.58.esv

Let us commit to hearing from and conversing with God each morning as we begin and make appointed times in the day to pause and check with Him, as His apprentice, asking How am I doing Lord?

Before I head home…  

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”‭‭James‬ ‭1:5-6‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/jas.1.5-6.esv